Cam follower cover gasket swaps

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by thesvg, Sep 12, 2011.

  1. thesvg

    thesvg Light Load Member

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    Has anyone ever changed the cam follower gaskets on a freightliner Century (Cummins N14e)? My third cover is leaking and I mistakenly swapped the oil pan gasket. The reason I ask is that there's barely enough room in the back of the engine.

    I had the same problem with my FLD 124 with a N14 350, and The mechanic that did that work looked up all that information on google, Long story short the next day my truck threw a rod out the side of the block.

    I've been reading the service manual for reference and I'm pretty confident I can take a shot at it. With the knowledge and wisdom some of you may offer me of course :D

    First and foremost my plan is as follows:

    I'm removing the starter, power cables and all that misc wiring to make enough room to operate. I know I have to take the rods out of the engine. Anymore details some of you may give me?

    Thanks
     
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  3. bender

    bender Road Train Member

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    The cummins troubleshooting and repair manual for this engine will lead you step by step and will likely be the best $100 you could spend.
     
  4. thesvg

    thesvg Light Load Member

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    is that the same as the N14 service manual? I have gone through pretty much everything on the manual. My only concern is adjusting the engine brake. I doubt It will need an adjusting if I just remove the housing.
     
  5. bender

    bender Road Train Member

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    The N14 select plus troubleshooting and repair manual would be for your engine, but the N14 manual could get you through it if you're familiar where the differences are between these engines. There were quite a few changes between the two.

    Many fleets bypass overhead adjustments to save time. If they sound healthy, they let'm go, so yes it's commonly done.
     
  6. Heavyd

    Heavyd Road Train Member

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    Double check those bolts, it is a longshot, but sometimes they are loose and snugging them up will help. If not, make sure you put the same thickness of gasket in afterwards.
     
  7. blanco

    blanco Road Train Member

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    I did mine not too long ago, I would number all push rods, caps, injectors and put them exactly the way you pulled them from. We did all three cam gaskets and found very little deviation when we checked overhead. The master mechanic that was supervising my work said you could skip overhead only if you put everything back the way it came out. It has been over 70k miles and due for overhead in a few months. Engine sounds good and getting excellent fuel mileage.
     
    thesvg Thanks this.
  8. thesvg

    thesvg Light Load Member

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    What bolts are you refering to?

    Yes! I will wait untill I remove the follower gasket. I made the mistake of letting the dealer convince me that all gaskets were universal and the mechanic wanted to use a the thicker gasket the dealer gave me. From that point forward I started getting an eerie feeling.
     
  9. Diesel Dave

    Diesel Dave Last Few of the OUTLAWS

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    Will someone correct me if Im wrong, but those are not gaskets where the cam followers go. They are shim's that time the camshaft. They look like gasket's but there not.
     
  10. thesvg

    thesvg Light Load Member

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    They are gaskets, I believe they are made with composite gasket material. A shim is a thin piece of material. the thickness determines the ignition's timing. A thicker gasket advances timing, and a thinner gasket ####### it.
     
  11. Diesel Dave

    Diesel Dave Last Few of the OUTLAWS

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    The shim's I've seen are a hard composite material. But who am I. Your knowledge seems better than mine. That's why I said, will someone correct me if Im wrong. On my BC1 I had year's back was that way. Your N14 was a later model so may require the metal ones you describe.
    If your mechanic didn't retime that cam follower when he R/R that so-called gasket, maybe that's why you threw the rod right away. Im just saying, don't get bend up over my "opinion". When I get into technical situations like yourself, I prefer to take it someone that know's what there doing and NOT have someone google it and fix that way. I do most of my work but I know my limitation's. Again.....it's only MY opinion.
     
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